OVER-EXUBERANT revellers who commit less serious alcohol-related offences can choose to attend drink awareness sessions rather than face an £80 on-the-spot fine.

The option has been introduced after a pilot in Birmingham showed the scheme reduced re-offending by 79 per cent.

The fixed penalty notice waiver scheme aims to re-educate people about how drinking affects their health, how alcohol-fuelled situations can place the drinker and others at risk and the law around the use of alcohol.

If an offender successfully completes the alcohol awareness course, the fine will be deemed to have been ‘‘paid’’. However, if they do not complete the required two-hour session for any reason, they will be liable to pay the penalty notice or a court summons will be issued against them in relation to the original alleged offence.

Insp Deborah Walker, of West Midlands Police drugs intervention programme, said: “The alcohol awareness sessions are an informative alternative to prosecution to educate low-level alcohol offenders to think about the consequences of their behaviour.

“The results from the pilot were encouraging, demonstrating that this approach is far more effective in reducing re-offending than simply issuing a fine, which will contribute to making our towns and cities much safer and more pleasant places to live and work.”